Photo: Steve Parsons/PA Archive/PA Images
Top showjumper, TV presenter and British Showjumping ambassador Tim Stockdale has died, following a short battle with cancer.
Incredible career
Tim was diagnosed with stomach cancer in early October and he tragically passed away on 14 November at Cynthia Spencer Hospice in Northampton.
The 54-year-old had an incredible career in showjumping, representing Great Britain on more than fifty Nations Cup teams as well as the World Equestrian Games in 2002 and the European Championships in 2009. He was also the highest placed Brit at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Tim also enjoyed great success competing on home turf. One of his most meaningful wins was the King George V Gold Cup at Hickstead’s Royal International Horse Show in 2010 with Kalico Bay.
‘No such word as can’t’
Tim’s career nearly came to an end in 2011 when he broke his neck in a fall. However, he was back on team duty just nine months later, when he rode for Britain in Rotterdam on Kalico Bay.
A year later Tim’s biography came out, appropriately entitled There’s No Such Word as Can’t.
As well as his showjumping career, Tim was a respected trainer and figure within the sport.
Tim’s vision
Tim was chef d’equipe for the winning British Nations Cup team in 2010 in Abu Dhabi and a former British Showjumping board director and chairman of the marketing and commercial committee. He was also the rider representative on British Showjumping’s international and performance committees.
Tim’s vision of how showjumping needed to change, from both a media and commercial perspective, saw him drive a number of new initiatives forward. These initiatives allowed the sport to develop a commercial offering that is unrivalled across other equestrian disciplines.
TV presenter
Tim was also a regular face on television – bringing the sport to a whole new audience. He first came to our screens in the Channel Four documentary Cutting Edge, which was followed by the reality show Faking It. He was then seen training celebrities to jump in just four weeks in the BBC Sports Relief series Only Fools on Horses.
He has since presented at a number of major horse shows alongside Clare Balding.
Family man
A dedicated family man, Tim leaves behind his wife Laura and their two sons Joseph and Mark. Tim was incredibly proud that both his sons excelled in sport and he took great pleasure watching their competitive careers flourish to international level. Joseph competes in showjumping and Mark plays golf.
A private funeral for family and close friends is to be held in Northamptonshire. A memorial event to celebrate his life and achievements will take place at a later date.